World Cup 2018 groups

The world cup 2018 starts in a few weeks and you can already start to feel the excitement. People are buying their teams jersys, looking for ways in which they can watch the matches and some go as far as trying to fit their programs to allow them to watch the games. The 2018 world cup saw teams like Peru gaining their spot in the finals after a 36 year absence. This world cup has many surprises. It may be the last world cup to feature the two greatest rivals in the game at the moment, Lionel Messi and Christiano ronaldo who are both above 30 years, in world cup action.

Source: Fifa.com

But do you really know your teams? Do you know which groups they were placed in? Do you know how they qualified? If you want either of those questions answered, then read on and get the information you would wish to know about FIFA world cup 2018.

World Cup qualifiers 2018

The process of seeking a place in the world cup took a significant number of years. It officially started in 2015 but had gone on for sometime before the first official draw as some teams had already started playing their qualification matches. The qualification process ended in 2017 with Brazil being the first country, after the automatic qualification of the host nation, to book a place in the world cup.

This 2018 world cup qualification process was not like the past qualifications. This time round all the members of FIFA were awarded a chance to battle it out against each other for a chance to participate in the competition. However, two teams were banned from the competition. The teams were Zimbabwe and Kuwait. Zimbabwe was banned for their act of not paying their former coach his severance pay and Kuwait was not given the chance because their football association was banned by FIFA.

The qualifiers for the FIFA world cup took place in all the 6 zones that were set out by FIFA. These zones were categorized according to the geographical location of the various participating teams. The zones included Asia, Europe, Africa, North, Central America and Caribbean, South America and the Oceanian zone. Let us look at the different zones and the method used to determine the teams that would then proceed to compete in the world cup.

World Cup qualification in Africa

The Confederation of African Football, which is the body that deals with the administrative and control of African football was the body that oversaw the qualification process of the teams from Africa who are now going to participate in the 2018 FIFA world cup. The executive committee met and agreed on the format for the qualification process for the prestigious cup.

The five slots given to Africa would eventually fall to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria and Senegal who were the eventual winners of their respective groups.

Source: Completesports Nigeria

World cup qualifiers 2018 Africa was conducted using a different method. The method they agreed on was that of four stages, with two preliminary stages before one last stage that saw the 20 best teams from the preliminaries be placed into different groups. Initially, the preliminary stages were three but the decision was revised and reduced to two in July 2015.

The first round would see a total of 26 teams compete against each other. The teams played both at home and away and finally, the thirteen best teams would be chosen to advance to the second round. This first round would feature the teams ranked between 23-53 in the continent. The teams would play home and away games over two legs. The number was 53 because Zimbabwe had been banned from participating in the world cup therefore it was not involve in the qualification process.

The second round saw a total of 40 teams playing against each other. This included the teams ranked 1-27 and the teams that advanced from the first round of matches. The teams would play home and away games over two legs. It was during this stage that the 20 teams would be selected to participate in the group stages.

The third round would see the 20 teams that ha advanced in the second round be put to battle against each other for the chance to feature in the world cup. The teams were divided into five groups of four teams each. The winner of the group would earn a place in the world cup.

World Cup qualification in Asia

The competition to find a world cup contenders from Asia was overseen by the Asian Football Federation (AFC). The slots available fro the countries under this federation were 5 in total with four of them being direct slots and one being an inter-confederation play-off slot.

Source: Youtube

The federation agreed on a method that would merge the qualification of the world cup and that of the AFC Asian cup. This mean that the countries that participated in the initial 2 rounds of qualification for the world cup were also battling for a place in the 2019 AFC Asian cup st to take place in 2019.

In the first round, a total of 12 teams played matches against each other n home and away meetings. The top six then preceded to the second round. The teams that competed were the teams that were ranked between 35-46

The second round a significantly larger number of teams as a total of 40 teams participated in this round . The participants were the ones who were ranked 1-34 and the six that proceeded from the first round. The groups were 8 and the winners from each group proceeded to the third round. Also, the four best runners up would also have the chance to participate in the third round. All the successful teams( the eight group winners and four runner ups) are also the teams that bagged the chance to participant in the Asia Cup in 2019.

The third round pitted the 12 teams against each other. They were placed into two groups of six teams. The two teams that emerged top in the groups won a spot in the world cup 2018. the third team in each group proceeded to the fourth round.

The fourth round saw the third placed teams from the second round play home and away matches and the winner would then advance to the inter-confederation play-offs. Australia was the one third placed teams that went on to qualify for the world cup through the inter-confederation play-offs.

World Cup qualification in North, Central America and Caribbean

The slots awarded to the teams in this zone are 3.5 with three automatic slots and one inter-confederation play-off. The qualification for the world cup in this zone was very competitive as opposed to previous years as for the first time since 1986 the USA failed to qualify.

The qualification games from this zone were spread across five rounds. The first three rounds were knockout rounds with the last two being played in the ‘hexagonal’ methid that involved five rounds.

For the first round, a total of 14 teams played home-away matches and the seven winners advanced to the second round. The teams playing in this round were the teams ranked 22-35 by CONCACAF.

In the second round, 20 teams, those ranked between 9-21 by CONCACAF and the seven first round winners played home-away matches. This round saw the teams playing the games over two legs and only ten teams advanced in this round.

In the third round, the teams that played included the teams ranked 7-8 and the ten that proceeded from the second round. The total teams involved in this round were 12. they plaayed home-away matches over a two leg period and only 6 winners advanced to the fourth round.

The fourth round saw 12 teams play against each other in home-away matches over a two leg period just like the third round. The 6 teams that advanced from the third round and the teams ranked 1-6 by CONCAF were the teams that played in this round.

The fifth round saw the six teams that advanced from the fourt round played home-away round-robin matches. They were placed in one single group and the top three teams advanced to the world cup with the fourth placed team getting a shot in the inter-confederation play-off. The countries that qualified were Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama

World Cup qualification in South America (CONMEBOL)

The teams from this zone are given five slots. 4 slots are automatic while one slot is given at the inter-confederation play-offs. The slots are given to teams who are members of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

Source: Youtube

The fixtures for the qualification were determined in a draw unlike 2014 where the fixtures were predetermined. The mode of qualifications for this teams was the same as the one used in 2014. it consisted of a total of ten(10) teams that played home and away round-robin matches. The teams that emerged top four were the ones that got a spot in the world cup. The team that clinched the fifth place then advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

The top four countries that got automatic slots are Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Columbia. Peru was the fifth team and it advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

World Cup qualification in Europe

The European qualification process was full of surprises. It saw some notable names in the world football scene being locked out of the competition. Some of the names that were knocked out include France and Netherlands (Netherlands finished third in the world cup of 2014). it also saw Iceland become the country with the smallest ever number of inhabitants to compete in the world cup. Russia gained automatic qualification because it is the host nation.

The other 52 countries that are affiliated by UEFA in Europe would go on and battle it out against each other and the games came to an end in 2017.

The first round saw the 54 teams play in 9 groups consisting of 6 teams. They played home and away robin matches . The subsequent winners in all the groups advanced to the 2018 FIFA world cup while the eight best runner up advanced to the second round. Before the teams were placed in the different groups, they were distinguished by the different rankings they have and placed in pots. The pots were spread out to a total of 6 with pot one having teams ranked 1-9, pot 2 10-18 and so on. The pots would then determine the teams to be placed in the different groups.

The second round was a play off that saw the eight best runners up battle for a spot in the world cup. They played each other in hone-and-away matches over a two leg period. The winner of each tie would then proceed to get a place in the world cup.

World Cup qualification in Oceania

The teams under the Oceania Football Confederation were offered one slot which was not automatic. For the team governed by this federation to proceed to the world cup, they must have first won the competition and advanced to the inter-confederation play-off for a chance to play in the world cup.

The first round saw four teams namely Samoa, Tonga, American Samoa and Cook Islands play a round-robin tournament in one country. The eventual winner of the tournament would then proceed to the second round.

The second round saw a total of 8 teams and the winner from the first round also engage in a round-robin tournament in one country. They were divided into two groups consisting of four teams each. The top three teams of each group would then advance to the third round.

The third round saw six teams play home and away round robin matches . The overall winner of the two groups then advanced to play in the inter-confederation play-offs.

The team that played n the play-off is Newzealand and it lost to Peru.

World Cup draw 2018

The official world cup draw that took place in Russia came as a relief to the many fans around the world. The 32 teams knew their fate. The 2018 world cup draw saw the teams grouped and the fixtures announced.

All the focus was put to the teams that impressed in the qualification process. The Germans were given Mexico as their first opponents. This to is not an easy fixture. Mexico are a revered team in the world football arena and Germany, well Germany are the defending champions and the Joachim Low’s side seem to have a point to prove. Below are the groups:

Source: Fifanews

Group A

This group consists of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. Russia as the host were put in the first pot and this ensured that it was safe from being grouped with the likes of Germany and Brazil. However, this group is also not as easy as it might seem, other teams in this group like Egypt who have the phenomenal Mohamed Salah may be a problem to the Russians. The other teams like Uruguay that has the Barcelona striker, Luis Suarez is also not a team to be overlooked.

Group B

This group consists of Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran. This group is one with country that won the 2010 world cup and the reigning European champions. It also has the country, Morocco, that did not concede a goal during the qualification period. However, Iran may impress coming from an underdog position. You never know what happens in football until it actually happens.

Group C

This group consists of France, Australia, Peru and Denmark. France are the favorite in this group. The France team is a star studded team with some of the most polished and seasoned world class players playing in different parts of the world being of French descent. Peru is the least favored country in this group with Denmark having players like Christian Eriksen who might inspire the team to victory. Australia had some problems as their coach resigned. But regardless, they have some talented players in their arsenal that might come in handy in the competition.

Group D

This group consists of Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria. This group has a number of talented individuals including Lionel Messi of Argentina and Alex Iwobi of Arsenal. However, the favorites in this group are Argentina with people expecting the maestro, Messi, to produce a performance that would lead him to have the world cup as one of his achievements.

Group E

This group consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia. Brazil enter this competition as one of the favorites having impressed in the qualification stage. Brazil were the first team to qualify for the world cup. The other teams also have quality in their side as the swiss boast of having Xherdan Shaqiri in their squad and Serbia having Nemanja Matic.

Group F

This group consists of Germany, Mexico, Sweden and Korea Republic. Germany are the reigning champions and are favored to be the top of this group. However, one cannot overlook the other countries like Mexico that has a number of quality players in their side with Javier Hernandez being their front line man. although Zlatan will jot be part of the Sweden team, the will seek to prove themselves and show their quality.

Group G

This group consists of Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England. England, in naming it’s squad for the world cup, failed to include some of the names in the world football arena that were seen as having a direct ticket to the team. This is however not a reason to brush off the Englishmen as they might have something up their sleeve. Belgium was impressive in the qualification period but there might be trouble as Kevin De Bruyne seems to be unhappy with the managers tactics. Panama may have the spirit but it is highly unlikely that they will proceed from the group. Tunisia on the other hand have been impressive so far with their attacking prowess and they might prove to be a problem to England s the two teams were feted against each other in the world cup 2018 fixtures.

Group H

This group consists of Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan. This is the group that has no previous world cup winner. However, this should not make you think the group will have less interesting matches. On the contrary, this group might produce some of the well-matched intense contests. The teams in this group have some of the players who are impressing in the club scene. One of them is the Bayern Munch striker, Robert Lewandowski. The striker bagged an impressive 16 goals to take his team to Russia. The other player is the Liverpool winger Sadio Mane who has been impressive fro club an was also an influential figure in the Senegal qualification campaign. Columbia also has some star players including the Bayern Munich mid fielder James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao who is a notable striker.